Speculation about Portuguese’s future after Europa League collapse

Tottenham‘s Europa League elimination at the hands of Dinamo Zagreb has put Jose Mourinho‘s future at the club in doubt, but it won’t be easy for the North London club to move him on.

With one of the highest wages for a coach in the Premier League and a contract that runs until summer 2023, sacking Mourinho is something that Tottenham would have to think very carefully about in terms of the financial side of things

It has been reported, furthermore, that there is no break clause for either party in the deal, meaning that the Portuguese coach would need to be paid a very hefty severance package if any parting of ways was not mutual.

Mourinho is a hard negotiator when it comes to payoffs, just ask Real Madrid, and the full amount that may be due to him from Spurs could reach 40 million euros.

Despite a strong start to the season, things have gone a little south for Mourinho and Spurs lately and the Europa League exit is a bitter pill to swallow, especially as they had a 2-0 lead from the first leg.

Qualifying for the Champions League is the key aim for the club and winning the Europa League had been viewed as a possible point of entry, especially as they are currently in eighth place and six points off fourth.

There are also whispers of discontent in the dressing room and Mourinho didn’t hold back his disappointment in the team after Thursday’s defeat.

“My team didn’t look like it was playing an important match. If for any one of them it is not important, for me it is,” said Mourinho after the match.

“I am disappointed for a difference of attitude of one team to another. 

“I feel sorry that my team is the team that didn’t bring to the game not just the basics of football but the basics of life, which is to respect our jobs and to give everything.”

Mourinho and Spurs do have a shot at redemption on April 24 when they face Manchester City in the Carabao Cup final, which would be the club’s first trophy since 2008.